Last updated March 15, 2021 (see recent photos/items at bottom of this file)
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On-going project to help homeless people in YMT-Jordan area - by Fr John
Background: Since early 2017, the NGO MercyHK (of which I am a founding director) has been helping homeless people in HK, especially those who sleep at McDonald's (God bless McDs for their compassion to the poor!). One MercyHK service was a free meal on Thursday nights which became Friday nights until stopped by the Covid-19 restrictions. During 2017-2019 MercyHK also helped a number of homeless people find accommodation. Other NGOs and groups also help the homeless in the Yau Ma Tei / Jordan area. But because of the economic downturn following the protest movement and now Covid-19, the number of homeless continues to grow. Therefore, thanks to the help of a number of kind HK friends, MercyHK since March 2020 has been increasing its help for the homeless.
This project was not my idea. I have just been an instrument. About mid-March when I was walking on the street, I received a call from a UCA News reporter. She was doing a story about homeless people no longer (at that stage) being able to sleep at McDonald's. I was one of a number of people she quoted in her report (Chinese text here). As a result of this report, a number of kind people spontaneously (I did not ask them) sent me donations to help the homeless. One kind friend, with my ok, even posted my bank account number on Facebook. As a result I was able to take action by renting some rooms for the homeless.
Basic Aims:
1. To help homeless people find accommodation.
2. Then help them find part/full time employment so as to be self-supporting.
3. If they are not able to work, to help them apply for government help
... since many of them have given up trying to get government help.
4. To encourage the homeless to be friends
with
Rooms are being rented at the Alhambra Building in Yau Ma Tei because the rent is not high and because in the same building, since about February 2020, a free meal each day is available for the poor! (January 2021: 350 people helped each day!)
Because of Covid-19, it is not practical in the YMT-Jordan area to rent a large room to accommodate many people. Small rooms are the way to go for the time being. Small rooms also encourage people to become responsible and self-supporting
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Above receipt is for two rooms, one for women, one for men, for one month
Above receipt is for one room for men for one month.
April 22: long line (does not include people already served) for free meal from kind staff at 1/F restaurant of Ping On building:
May 1: Photos of Temple Street stall blessing & opening - here. Aim of stall(s): to provide employment for the homeless people ... enabling them eventually to take responsibility for paying the rent of their rooms at the Ping On Building.
May 3: HK Chinese Catholic Media report about MercyHK helping homeless people and here
May 10: HK
Chinese Catholic paper - Kung Kao Po - report about work of MercyHK helping the homeless
May
10: HK English Catholic Paper - Sunday Examiner - report about work of MercyHK
helping the homeless
May 17: We are now renting 14 rooms at the Ping On Building ....for 33 homeless people (6 of whom are working at the second hand stalls of MercyHK in Temple Street Market .... on the understanding that from June they will use part of their monthly salary to help pay for their room rent)
May 29: Because of licencing problems for our 3 stalls in Temple Street, and because of weather problems ... and the happy problem of way too many items to sell, we have closed the 3 stalls and are now in a G/F shop at 191 Temple Street, due to open Monday June 8 ... and to be open each day from 11am to 8pm.
June 7: Photos of volunteers and workers preparing 191 Temple Street shop for opening - tomorrow!
June 26 photos of MercyHK's 2nd hand shop at 191 Temple Street, Jordan
July 22: Beautiful new banner at MercyHK 2nd hand shop in Temple Street, Jordan
July 30: CarousellHK - MercyHK!
Sep 23: Fee showing of "I'm Livin' It" for 40 homeless people and 40 from NGOs and media
Oct 4: Blessing by VG Rev. Dominic Chan of MercyHK's 2nd hand shop at 191 Temple Street
Since the beginning of November 2020, MercyHK is employing Simon Chung as a full time social work helper for Fr John
Dec 4: Christmas banner at MercyHK 2nd hand shop 191 Temple Street, Jordan
Since the beginning of January 2021, Fr John's full time social work helper Simon Chung is being assisted by Sr Louise Lam FDDC, former CEO of Canossa Hospital
2021:
Jan 23-24: Jordan Lockdown, with many follow-up media reports
March 15: Apple Daily - homelessness:
April 15: Ming Pao - homelessness:
God bless all donors, volunteers, staff and guests!
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Financial reports for Temple Street Project here
Information for making donations here
Fr John's daily blog: www.v2catholic.com
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